Date: 2021 – 06 – 02
Level: Bachelor thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr
Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalens UniversityAuthors: Jennifer Lind och Evelina Nogelius Titel: Communication in virtual teams - A qualitative study of employees’ perspectives on the leader’s impact on communication within virtual teams. Tutor: Kerstin NilssonKeywords: Leadership, virtual team, communication, team spiritQuestions: - Which factors does the leader affect on communication in virtual teams? - How does the choice of communication tools affect virtual teams? Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze employees' perspectives based on different aspects of communication within virtual teams in order to create an understanding of how the leader can create a functioning communication within virtual teams. Method: In the study, a qualitative research method was used, and the empirical material was collected through semi - structured individual interviews and group interviews. The interview questions are based on the study’s chosen theory and the empirical material is based on two group interviews, one group of four and one of three, and also three individual interviews. The empiric was analyzed with the chosen theory in order to be able to answer the research questions.Conclusion: The leader affects communication within virtual teams in different ways. The aspect’s clear structure of communication based on the needs in the team, informal communication, communication in digital meetings, amount of communication and choice of communication tools are factors that the leader affects. Which in turn affects the virtual team in different ways. When it comes to the choice of communication tools, it is important that they are adapted to the individuals in the team and their tasks. Improper choice of communication can cause redundant amount of communication, which lowering the performance of the virtual team.